If you operate a pick-your-own strawberry farm, you will likely have to make at least some sort of changes to adhere to social distancing guidelines in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Hoffman, a small fruit Extension specialist with NC State University Extension, has some guidelines for growers as well as possible field setup options for this season.

Related: Complete coronavirus coverage
 

Possible preventative measures

Hoffman’s suggestions for U-pick operations include:

Go cashless. Consider using cashless money transfers such as cards or online transfers (Facebook Marketplace, PayPal, etc.). If cash is used, your employees need to wear gloves and hand-sanitize after every transaction.

Avoid crowds. Postpone any big events or gatherings to avoid large numbers of people in close proximity.

Keep hands clean. Provide handwashing or and hand sanitizer to all customers and employees. Make sure that handwashing stations are being used and provide gloves to customers who would like to wear them.

Keep surfaces clean. Disinfect surfaces (reusable bins, buckets, railings, doorknobs) on a regular basis several times a day. Use the official list of allowable substances from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to select your disinfectant. Other methods are not safe and will endanger you, your employees and your customers.

Communicate with customers. Put up signs to communicate that customers should not come to the farm if they are COVID-19 positive, if they are displaying any COVID-19 disease symptoms, or if they came into contact with COVID-19 positive people. Communicate not just through signs but also with social media.

Keep sick workers home. Make sure that employees stay away from work if they are COVID-19 positive, displaying disease symptoms or have come into contact with COVID-19 positive people. Communicate that to your customers through signs and social media so that they can feel safe.

Practice social distancing. CDC defines social distancing as remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, maintain 6 feet distance from others when possible.

In practical terms, that means do not shake hands with employees, colleagues or customers; do not stand closer than 6 feet to the next person; limit access of customers to the field; and make sure that customers are spread out through the strawberry field.

Possible field setups

There are currently no rules on how to set up strawberry U-pick operations. It is important to limit the number of customers in the field and to make sure customers are spread out. Here are some options to consider for your operation.

1. Block-zone layout. The first option is a block-zone layout where groups move in alternating zones and walk across beds to the other end of the field. Check the graphic below for a visual example. The brown arrows show customer movement.

Customers should wait in small groups before being allowed out in the field, though the size of the group will be defined by the most recent COVID-19 county and state regulations. In many places, gatherings of more than 10 people are banned, though that could change. We recommend smaller groups, if possible.

Each group should be 6 feet apart from each other, and markings on the ground could show where groups should gather.

In the field, divisions can be done using tomato wire. Only every other zone would be populated with a group of people at a time. Hand sanitizing options should be provided before entering and leaving the field.

Maintain a directional approach to lead customers through the field. For example, have them start at one end of the field and end at the other end, if possible, and have dedicated paths for them to go to the pay station and parking lot.

2. Row-zone layout. This layout is easier to realize than the block layout, but it will accommodate less customers at a time.

In the row-zone layout, two rows build one zone. Customers move in alternating zones along beds to the other end of the field. The brown arrows on the graphic above show customer movement. Colored sticks could be used to mark the rows where customers went last so that alternating rows can be used to let in the next group of customers.